New Balance 730 Product Review

Short Take

730 is the number to know if you want a light, low and fast road running shoe that feels simple on your feet while you rack up the miles.

Big Features

Light and Low Platform: With stack heights of just 13mm in the forefoot and 16mm in the heel, the 730 is one low shoe. The midsole of the 730 is made from ACTEVA LITE, an EVA foam that retains its structure over time for increased durability.

Shaped for Midfoot Striking: Built on the NL-1 last, the 730 has a wide and low toebox that gives your foot room to expand laterally on foot-strike.

Widths Available: We are carrying the Men's 730 in 2E sizes.

Road Test

A Minimus collection shoe in almost all respects except the name, the 730 is about as light as it gets for a daily trainer. You're looking at 7.0 oz for a Men's 9 and just 5.5 oz for a Women's 8. The lack of heft is noticeable both when the shoe is in your hand and on your foot.

The 730 is the perfect example of a “barely there” upper. It fits well – anchoring your heel, giving you structure in the midfoot and offering plenty of room in the toebox. This shoe is built on the same last as the MR10 / WR10 and MT110 / WT110, shoes that we've praised on many occasions for their upper fit. The 730 actually feels more deconstructed than either of those models, with light mesh that doesn't quite hug the foot.

The mid/outsole of this shoe is what surprised many of our testers. It offers good protection given how little material separates you from the road, but most of us thought the shoe would feel softer than it does. The 730's platform is flexible in all directions, but it's also firm. We attribute that to the ACTEVA LITE midsole material, which prizes lightweight durability over cushion and softness.

Even though the 730 offers a firm ride, it stays away from the harsh feel of some other shoes with similarly low stack heights. The 730 skews more minimal than the Minimus shoes of just a year ago, and we think it ticks enough boxes to appeal to a wide range of runners today.

Runners Say

I'd be comfortable in this shoe up to about an hour. It's not soft, but it's not as harsh as some other shoes with stack heights in this range. I'm impressed by the amount of protection given the midsole's thickness.

There is a lot to like in this package. I think any runner would give the upper a thumbs up – it just fits so well – and for the person who wants to get in touch with the road, this shoe gives you enough protection to go further than just around the block.